House or Home?

“Home is where the heart is” forms a well-known phrase which we often hear. However, we seldom hear a person say “house is where the heart is”.

The reason is simple – the word ‘house’ generally refers to just the structure, be it of brick and concrete or stone and mud, while the word ‘home’ refers to the special place to which a person belongs and where he feels most comfortable, relaxed and ‘at home’.

Let us now ask ourselves, “How many of us feel at home in our own houses?” Before we ‘jump the gun’ in our eagerness to answer, let us ponder over the following: Do we feel trapped in our homes, and feel like we just need to go out? Despite us having every luxury, amenity and comfort in our homes, is it inconceivable for us to spend a holiday at home? When we enter our homes, do we feel peace, tranquility and happiness? Or are we overwhelmed by feelings of gloom, depression and frustration?

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What’s in a Name?

Dawood … Salmaa … Mu‘aaz … - Each and every name is as unique as the individual bearing the name. But how are children named? Or rather, more importantly, how should a child be named?

Naming a child is normally a ‘once in a lifetime’ occurrence and is thus shown great importance. The matter is often debated and discussed for months on end before the child has even entered the world. While it is not necessary to spend months deliberating different names, what is necessary is that we give the child a good name, as he or she will bear this name for life, and also because the name of the child has an effect on the child. Hence, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed the Ummah to give their children good names, and he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would himself change the name of a person who had been given an unsuitable name.

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All Bran Rusks

Melt the following in the microwave till it bubbles:

500g butter

2 cups brown sugar

To the above add:

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk

and mix well.

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Save the Low Pan!

For centuries and centuries, since the beginning of time, the natural position that people globally adopted for relieving themselves was that of squatting. Indeed, this position is so natural that a child instinctively adopts it when he needs to relieve himself.

It was only around the seventeenth century that Lord John Harington invented the high-pan toilet. Despite the years that have passed since its inception, and its popularity among certain classes of society, more than half the population of the world still squat to relieve themselves.

Squatting has numerous Deeni as well as health benefits. When a person squats, there is no water directly below him – as is the case with the high-pan toilet. As it is well known, the high pan toilet has a tit-for-tat – or rather ‘splish for splash’ attitude. Suffice it to say that a person using the high-pan toilet is at great risk to suffer a splash-back. This not only messes a person’s body with najaasat (impurity) which renders salaah null and void, but is also the cause of one suffering painful punishment in the grave.

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White Chocolate and Caramel Parfait

Extremely decadent! Definitely worth all the bowls.

Melt 300g of white chocolate.

Whisk 3 egg yolks, 3 Tbsp castor sugar and 1 tsp vanilla essence till pale and thick.

In a separate bowl whip 1 cup fresh cream till thick.

In another clean bowl whisk 3 egg whites till stiff.

Fold the melted chocolate into the egg yolk mixture.

Fold in the egg whites followed by the fresh cream.

Chop 1 box of Romany Creams into small pieces.

Stir 1 can caramel treat till smooth.

Layer your mousse, caramel treat and biscuit pieces in glasses or a trifle bowl.

Refrigerate to set. Eat within 3 days as the mousse will become grainy when kept for too long.